Designed to Address the Automotive Markets Need for Enhanced Camshaft Applications

February 10, 2014

Worcester, MA – Allegro MicroSystems, LLC introduces a unique addition to Allegro’s camshaft sensor family of products. As a single element, non-TPOS sensor it provides first falling edge detection, high running-mode edge accuracy, and direction/orientation insensitivity over the full operating range of air gap, speed, and temperature. Allegro’s ATS601LSG is a true zero-speed gear tooth sensor IC consisting of an optimized Hall IC and simple magnetic pellet configuration ideal for phased cam, start/stop engine applications. It can also be used for motorcycle, golf cart and industrial equipment applications.

The single element Hall IC and magnet configuration switches in response to magnetic signals created by a ferrous target. The IC contains a low bandwidth filter that increases the noise immunity and the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor. Sophisticated digital circuit design eliminates the detrimental effects of target geometry discontinuity, magnet and system offsets, and thermal gradients. Signal processing is used to provide zero speed performance independent of air gap and also to dynamically adapt device performance to the typical operating conditions found in automotive applications, particularly camshaft sensing.

A programmable number of target teeth allow learning of the target profile and optimization of switching thresholds, ensuring high accuracy, even with target eccentricity. An internal hidden hysteresis in the thresholds reduces the negative effects of anomalies in the magnetic signal. The resulting output of the device is a digital representation of the ferrous target profile.